The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-28
THE BussEY BRIDGE DISASTER.
Conclusions Reached by the Board
of Commissioners.

BOSTON, April 27-The conclusions reached
by the Board of Commissioners to investi-
| gate the disaster at Bussey bridge, over
South street, between the Roslindale and
Forest Hills stations, in that part Of Boston
called West Rexbury, are as follows: The
contract for rebuilding the bridge in 1876
was made without proper examination as to
| the standing Of the contractor. Those who
acted for the corporation in making the con-
tract had not sufficient knowledge Of iron
bridge building to enable them to pass intel
ligently uponzthe design and specifications.
The design and specifications for the bridge
were not such as should have been accepted
The bridge was constructed practically with
out superintendenee on the part Of the cor
poration, and the corporation neglected to
preserve copy Of the specifications, draw
ings and strain sheets. The tests Of the
bridge were not made in the presence of any
one acting for the corporation who was quail
ifed to judge of their value. From the time
of the construction of the bridge to the day
when it fell, the railroad company had
caused it to be examined by one man only,
who, year after year, passed over vital parts
of the bridge without realizing that they
were of Importance. This man had been in
the employment of Incorporation for long
series OF years; his trade was that of ma
chinist; he had not been educated as a civil
engineer, and the management had abundant
reason TO know that he was not qualified and
he'd had no opportunity to qualify himself
to do the work assigned to him with refer
enee to this bridge. The series Of tests of
the bridge recommended by the board in
49,. IL kl....
speetion Of bridges the management Of q
railroad Is bound to exercise the utmost care.
Had such care been exercised, there Is every
reason to believe that the disaster would
have beensprevented. On the thirty-second
page OF the last report of the Commission is
preston OF It's belief that a preventible acci-
dent is a crime" Notwithstanding the re-
peated warnings Of the Board, the spaces be-
tween the ties on this bridge were far too
great for safety. Notwithstanding the rec
ommendatlon Of the Board in 1881, no suita-
BILE guard rails or guard timbers were placed
upon the bridge. The Westinghouse auto
matte alr-brake, a safety appliance, remark
able alike Tor its simplicity and effectiveness
and long ago approved and adopted by all
the leading railroads, was not in practical
operation on this train, neither was the train
furnished with sufficient number of brake
men to comply with the requirements of the
statute.
The disaster and the facts which have
been disclosed, impose grave responsibility
on the board of directors. 1t is their duty,
by the most searching inquiry, to ascertain
forthwith whether any other work has been
done in like negligent and incompetent
manner, whether in other matters reasona-
bic and well-apprOved precautions against
accident have been ignored or neglected, and
whether false economy has been practiced
and safety sacrificed. They should not rest
until they have taken the most energetic
measures, without regard to expense and
without regard to persons, to correct the
past and to ensure better and safer manage
ment in the future. So far as relates to
bridges, the directors have already caused
thorough expert examination to be begun.
line.
In mitigation Of the sentence of condemna-
tion called for by the foregoing findings and
i'm snnnnrt nf the h.Ar sJS-.ss~4]
membered that from 1869, when the board Of
the time Of this disaster, period of eighteen
years, there has been no train accident ON
the Boston & Providence railroad which re-
suited in the loss of life of, or even in se-
rious injury, to a passenger.
The accident furnishes another proof of the
necessity OF abolishing the deadly car stove.
As bridges emb0dy many possibilities OF
hanger, it Is proper that special means
should be taken to secure careful, competent
and faithful construction, and thorough
and scientific examination OF them by the
railroads at regular intervals, followed by
thorough State inspection. The Importance
of such action is emphasized by the fact that
the weight Of engines and Of the rolling
stock of railroads and of the loads carried
has been increasing for many years. The
weight of engines and rolling-stock has
doubled within twenty years. Moreover,
the speed Of the heavy passenger express
and through freight trains has also largely
Increased.